Seifsa CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba
The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) announced on Friday that it would host a high-level Metals and Engineering Indaba in Gauteng next May as part of efforts to revive the fortunes of the important, yet embattled, manufacturing subsector.
Lamenting the decline in manufacturing’s economic contribution from over 20% of gross domestic product in 1983 to only 16% in 2013, CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba said the conference would bring together business owners, trade unionists and policymakers from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to deliberate on turnaround strategies.
Invitations have been extended to Trade and Industry Ministers from across the SADC region and South Africa’s Minister, Dr Rob Davies, had already indicated his eagerness to participate.
Captains of industry had also been invited and would participate in panel discussions along with leading economists and trade unionists.
The intention was to develop the indaba into a yearly event, with the inaugural two-day gathering to be held at Emperors Palace, in Ekurhuleni, on May 28 and 29.
Nyatsumba also announced that the organisation would be launching the Seifsa Awards for Excellence in 2015. The awards, which would take place on March 19, would seek to “recognise, celebrate and encourage excellence in the metals and engineering sector”.